India's BHEL seeks levy on imported solar power equipment

safeguard India's solar power manufacturing industry.

This is the battlecry of BHEL, which is pitching for duties on imported solar equipment.

The industry is currently being hurt by cheap imports primarily from China.

BHEL's move comes close on the heels of the government slapping higher levy on imported power equipment.

"The domestic (solar cell manufacturing) industry has to be given that protection otherwise cheaper imports will come and domestic industry will close down," BHEL Chairman and Managing Director B P Rao told PTI.

According to BHEL, solar equipment from some countries are coming into India at prices lower than their market value, a scenario adversely impacting domestic players.

"It is against those industry level practices, the countries which are doing this is a violation of the WTO provision itself, if they are causing harm by deliberately giving prices which are lesser than the costs, it hurts any industry," Rao said.

At present there is no duty on imported solar power equipment.

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